After last week's City Council vote to keep the Lubbock Health Department intact, the agency could undergo some changes after all.

After last week’s City Council vote to keep the Lubbock Health Department intact, the agency could undergo some changes after all.

Today, the council will consider a resolution directing the Lubbock Board of Health to explore with county representatives the possibility of a city/county Health Department, according to the meeting’s agenda.

Money would constitute the primary difference between a city-operated Health Department and one jointly operated with the county, said Councilman Jim Gilbreath.

Any resolution passed today would explore those options, he added.

“I think the resolution’s going to pass, and then it will be up to the Board of Health and the Commissioner’s Court to get together and discuss the possibilities to move forward,” he said.

Any changes wouldn’t come for a year because each governmental body has set a separate budget, Gilbreath said.

Since August, the council, the Health Department and the general public have debated the future of the department.

Gilbreath was on the Health Board subcommittee recommending recently the council maintain certain services in a city-operated Health Department.

A joint venture between the city and county came up during some subcommittee meetings, Gilbreath said, adding Lubbock County Judge Tom Head indicated he would discuss the plan.

At one time, the county operated the Health Department, but the city took it over during the 1970s, the councilman said.

Brian Carr, a local psychologist and secretary of the Board of Health, believes the council resolution will pass. He has questions about distributing the money to operate the venture.

The Board of Health’s next meeting is Nov. 18, Carr said, and exploring a city/county Health Department likely will be discussed in more depth, depending on the council’s decision today.

Carr said a combined department would allow sharing of costs and resources, but it could take some finesse to get the county commissioners and City Council to reach a resolution.

County Commissioner Bill McCay said he is always looking for ways to work with Lubbock to save tax dollars and benefit the city.

He said he needs to learn as much about the issues as possible and understand the needs of the city and the county.

“I would look at it as an opportunity to see what we can do for the community in a partnership,” said McCay, who represents Precinct 1.

McCay said he was unsure why the two governmental bodies parted ways in the 1970s regarding the Health Department.

“For whatever reason and however the change took place, it probably made sense to all stakeholders at the time,” he said, “and as times have changed and needs in the community have changed and grown, I’m sure it is time to look at how these services are being provided.”